Richard Collin's Very First Hand as Declarer
We had our first lunchtime bridge session on Friday, March 3rd, 2003, with Carol and I,
Richard Collins (who says he plays bridge with relatives maybe once a year)
and Edward Salatovka (who we taught how to play two years ago, but hasn't played for a
year and a half).
The second hand of the day, we got to 6 hearts with this layout.
Rick
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void
Q872
KQ75
AKJ86
Edward Carol
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K842 AQT95
964 53
9432 AJT6
75 92
Richard
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J763
AKJT
8
QT43
North East South West
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1 club 1 spade 2 hearts Pass
6 hearts All Pass
You could tell by the auction that I sat North. Who else would jump to slam like that?
My problems during the bidding were, could I trust Richard to have his 2 heart bid?
I hadn't seen him bid before (except for the first hand where I had to encourage him
to double after 1 spade, all pass), and even if I did, do I dare do this to my poor,
newbie partner -- put him in slam on the very first board he plays?
I decided to (Carol said later, "Sure, go ahead and bid slam. Let everybody know
that we play SERIOUS bridge.") and Richard rose to the occasion, playing it well
enough to make. Whew!
He ruffed the opening spade lead, got to his hand with the club queen to ruff a
second spade (not best in case the bad guys can ruff the second round of clubs
after winning the diamond ace, but let's not quibble), then played a diamond.
Carol took her ace and belatedly tried a trump to cut down on dummy ruffing spades,
but it was of no use. Richard ruffed a second spade, pulled trump and won 12 tricks
(2 spade ruffs, 4 hearts, a diamond, and 5 clubs). Even with an initial trump
lead, careful play still gets the same 12 tricks.
p.s. The lesson on Negative Doubles will have to come later.